"[Michael] was a precious gift – loving, giving, compassionate, joyful and intelligent," a message on a GoFundMe page set up for his funeral costs read. "A great inspiration for anyone that heard his genuine, humble, witty and joyful voice, or experienced his smile, laughter and love for just a moment. To know him was to love him."

It was reported at the time that Galeota had suffered from abdominal pain, hypertension, and high cholesterol.